On the court: In games against North Ridgeville and Amherst, the freshman scored a combined 39 points on 13-for-19 shooting and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. She added 19 rebounds and four assists.

Laura Banks

Rocky River, Senior >> Swimming

In the pool: In a dual meet with Westlake, Banks won the 50 freestyle (25.

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 18:07:57 -0500201612090854512016-12-08T18:07:57-05:002016-12-09T08:54:51-05:00Lake Ridge couldn't put together a comeback in a tough 74-66 loss to First Baptist in its home opener on Dec. 8.

The Royals, down, 22-9, after the first quarter, managed to take a one-point lead with less than a minute before halftime, but some late foul trouble kept Lake Ridge out of this one.

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 21:52:16 -0500201612082152162016-12-08T21:52:16-05:002016-12-08T21:52:16-05:00North Ridgeville got into a groove early on and exploded in the transition offense for a convincing 72-31 team victory over Midview on Dec. 7 to improve to 2-2 on the season.

In a clash between a senior-led Rangers squad and a young group of Middies, this one looked like a track race to start off as Midview hit its first six shots while North Ridgeville kept stride for the first few minutes.

]]>Wed, 07 Dec 2016 22:22:57 -0500201612072222572016-12-07T22:22:57-05:002016-12-07T22:22:57-05:00Ask any basketball player and they will tell you that conference games mean just a little more.

Olmsted Falls and Avon showed just why as they went down to the wire in an early season Southwestern Conference thriller that saw the Bulldogs (3-1, 2-1 SWC) squander a fourth-quarter lead, only to snatch it back just in the nick of time with smart passes and confident shooting.

]]>Wed, 07 Dec 2016 22:11:29 -0500201612072211292016-12-07T22:11:29-05:002016-12-07T22:11:29-05:00Bay wants to be perfect defensively and the second quarter gave them some validation.

The Rockets held host Columbia scoreless in the second quarter, then broke things open in the third quarter en route to a 50-29 nonconference win on the road on Dec. 7.

The season started off with a bang, as the Clippers were able to outlast the Comets, thanks to a 25-point performance from Deuce Martin, eight of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

It was opening night for both squads and the Comets were in control early, jumping out to a 17-7 lead in the first six minutes.

]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2016 22:27:38 -0500201612062227382016-12-06T22:27:38-05:002016-12-06T22:27:38-05:00It wasn't pretty, but Lorain gutted out a 66-57 win over a tough Vermilion team Dec. 6 in its season opener in front of a packed crowd at the Titans' new gym.

Vermilion (2-1) got within one at the start of the fourth quarter when a Kaleb Caskey basket made it 51-50, but the Sailors struggled on the boards as seniors Naz Bohannon and Jalil Little combined for 11 of Lorain's fourth-quarter points to fend off Vermilion.

]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2016 22:19:33 -0500201612062219332016-12-06T22:19:33-05:002016-12-06T22:19:33-05:00It's just two games into the season, but word already is out about the Elyria boys basketball team. The Pioneers are big, they're deep, they're good.

In a 76-60 nonconference victory over visiting Westlake on Dec. 6, Elyria had four players score in double figures, something that has happened in both of their games.

]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2016 21:26:47 -0500201612062126472016-12-06T21:26:47-05:002016-12-06T21:26:47-05:00Northeast Ohio sent off some the finest young ladies to the next level after the 2015-16 girls basketball season.

The North Olmsted Eagles earned a home win on Dec. 5, defeating Lorain 40-34.

It was a back-and-forth game, as North Olmsted led, 15-14, at the half, but the Titans came out strong to start the third quarter.

]]>Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:08:04 -0500201612060913122016-12-05T22:08:04-05:002016-12-06T09:13:12-05:00After trailing for most of the fourth quarter, Bay overcame a seven-and-a-half minute scoring drought to take a late 39-38 lead on Avon Lake on Dec. 5. But the Shoregals hit a pair of clutch shots late to take one on the road, 43-42.]]>Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:47:31 -0500201612052258082016-12-05T22:47:31-05:002016-12-05T22:58:08-05:00Girls basketball